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E-Commerce · head to head

Instacart vs Loox

Instacart logo

Instacart

E-Commerce

US and Canada grocery delivery and pickup marketplace with a paid membership tier

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Loox logo

Loox

E-Commerce

Photo reviews and referrals for Shopify stores

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Instacart has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Instacart item prices shown in the app are frequently higher than the same items in the physical store, and this markup is not clearly separated from delivery and service fees at checkout, making true cost comparison difficult.; Loox beginner plan limited to 500 total orders
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Instacart and Loox actually diverge.

Attributes where Instacart and Loox differ
AttributeInstacartLoox
Starting priceFree$14.99/month
Pricing modelFree to download; item markups plus delivery and service fees per order, optional subscriptionsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Instacart

  • Multi-retailer marketplace
  • Instacart+ membership
  • Same-day and scheduled delivery
  • Pickup option
  • Item substitution controls
  • Instacart Ads and retail media

Only in Loox

Nothing recorded that Instacart does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Instacart

  • A household with limited time wanting groceries delivered same day from a familiar supermarket chainnot Loox
  • A frequent orderer comparing whether an Instacart+ subscription pays off against per-order feesnot Loox
  • Someone using SNAP EBT benefits at a participating retailer through the appnot Loox
  • A shopper who wants to order ahead and collect at pickup to avoid the delivery fee entirelynot Loox

Loox

  • Collecting visual reviews and customer photosnot Instacart
  • Displaying reviews across product pages and checkoutnot Instacart
  • Syncing reviews across multiple sales channelsnot Instacart
  • Running referral and discount programs from reviewsnot Instacart

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Instacart

  • Item prices shown in the app are frequently higher than the same items in the physical store, and this markup is not clearly separated from delivery and service fees at checkout, making true cost comparison difficult.
  • Shoppers are a mix of employees and independent contractors depending on market and retailer, and gig-classified shoppers have raised pay and working-condition complaints that have drawn regulatory attention in several US states.
  • The service fee and delivery fee combination means a small grocery order can carry a large proportional surcharge, making Instacart uneconomical for frequent small top-up shops.
  • Item substitutions chosen by a shopper when stock runs out can differ meaningfully from what was ordered, and refund handling for a poor substitution requires customer support intervention.
  • Availability is limited to the US and Canada, and even within those countries, delivery zones and retailer coverage vary block by block in a way that is not obvious until you enter an address.

Loox

  • Beginner plan limited to 500 total orders
  • Convert plan costs $35 more monthly than Beginner but enables unlimited orders
  • Pricing specific to Shopify stores, not available for other platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Instacart

Free
  • Pay per orderFree
    • Item prices often marked up versus in-store
    • Delivery fee varying by store and delivery window
    • Service fee of roughly 5 percent of order subtotal
  • Instacart+$9.99/month
    • Delivery fees waived on orders over a store minimum
    • Reduced service fees
    • Also offered at a discounted annual rate

Loox

$14.99/month
  • Beginner$14.99/month
    • Up to 500 total orders
    • Review request emails
    • Discount for photo reviews
  • Convert$49.99/month
    • Unlimited orders
    • Smart visual sorting
    • Review highlights
  • Unlimited$299.99/month
    • Unlimited review requests
    • Unlimited referrals
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Instacart if

  • You need multi-retailer marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want instacart+ membership.
Instacart review

Choose Loox if

Nothing in the data separates Loox from Instacart on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Loox review

Questions people ask

Is Instacart or Loox better?
Neither clearly leads. Instacart starts at Free and Loox at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Instacart or Loox?
Instacart has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Instacart and $14.99/month for Loox.
Does Instacart or Loox run on more platforms?
Instacart runs on iOS, Android, Web. Loox runs on Web.
Can I use Instacart for free?
Yes. Instacart has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Loox starts at $14.99/month.
What is Instacart best used for?
Instacart is most often used for a household with limited time wanting groceries delivered same day from a familiar supermarket chain, a frequent orderer comparing whether an instacart+ subscription pays off against per-order fees, someone using snap ebt benefits at a participating retailer through the app, a shopper who wants to order ahead and collect at pickup to avoid the delivery fee entirely. Of those, a household with limited time wanting groceries delivered same day from a familiar supermarket chain and a frequent orderer comparing whether an instacart+ subscription pays off against per-order fees are not what Loox is typically brought in for.
What can Instacart do that Loox cannot?
Instacart covers Multi-retailer marketplace, Instacart+ membership, Same-day and scheduled delivery, Pickup option.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Instacart: Are Instacart prices the same as in the store?

Often not. Many retailers set higher item prices for Instacart orders than for in-store purchase, on top of delivery and service fees.

Loox: How much does Loox cost?

Loox pricing starts at $14.99 per month for the Beginner plan, $49.99 per month for Convert, and $299.99 per month for Unlimited. Billing occurs through Shopify with no annual commitment required.

Source
Instacart: Does Instacart+ pay for itself?

Only for households ordering often enough that the waived delivery fees exceed the subscription cost; occasional orderers usually do not break even.

Loox: What is the main difference between Loox's Beginner and Convert plans?

Beginner plan is limited to 500 total orders and includes basic review features. Convert allows unlimited orders and adds smart visual sorting, video reviews, Google Shopping integration, AI review stories, auto-translated reviews, and AI review replies.

Source
Instacart: Are Instacart shoppers employees?

It depends on the market and retailer; Instacart uses a mix of directly employed and independent contractor shoppers.

Loox: Is there a free version of Loox?

Loox offers a free trial to start, but paid plans begin at $14.99 per month. No permanent free version is available.

Source
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